New Delhi, Jul 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday accused the Centre of compelling the National Conference (NC) to take its demand for the restoration of statehood to the national capital, alleging that repeated assurances made by the Union government had not been fulfilled.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi during the party’s protest, Omar said the NC had been reminding the Centre for more than two years to honour the commitments made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court regarding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
“We have not come here by choice. The Centre has left us with no option but to protest after repeatedly failing to fulfil the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the National Conference remained committed to its political agenda and would continue to pursue the issues it had consistently raised.
He recalled that the party had passed a resolution during the first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly concerning the region’s special position, constitutional rights and special status, adding that the NC had no intention of abandoning that agenda.
Omar Abdullah said the immediate focus of the party’s protest was the restoration of statehood, describing it as the first priority before taking up other political issues.
“Our immediate objective is the restoration of statehood. Once that commitment is fulfilled, we will continue to pursue the other issues, including the resolution adopted by the Assembly,” he said.
